Knife



Aug. 1s, 1936.

G. N. KIRANGELOS KNIFE Filed June 3, 1935 Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE George N. Kirangelos, New York, N. Y. ApplicationJune s, V1935, serial No. 24,737 s Claims. (ci. sii-'9) This inventionrelates to a knife designed primarily for cutting fur skins, but it isto be understood that it is for use in any connection where it is foundto be applicable. y

The essential objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a knife for the purpose referred to of aconstruction to permit of a. blade being readily removed and a new bladesubstituted when occasion requires; to provide for the folding of theblade in an encased manner when the knife -is not in use .therebypreventing injury from the cutting edge of the blade, more especiallyfrom the point of the blade if the knife is dropped; to latch the bladein extended position when using the knife to. prevent the folding of thelatter; to prevent any injury from the point and cutting edge of theblade when the knife is closed; to overcome thenecessity of employing aseparate enclosing casing for the knife when the latter is carried uponthe person; to protect the bearing finger of the operator when using theknife; to protect the cutting edge of the blade of the knife when thelatter is not in use; to provide the handle ofthe knife as a protectorfor the blade when the latter is folded; and to so form the knife handleas to permit it to be provided with a scale as a convenience to theoperator.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, iniafmanner ashereinafter set forth, a knife for the purpose referred to which issimple in its construction and arrangement,- strong, durable, compact,thoroughly efficient for the purpose intended thereby, readily assembledand comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

To the above ends essentially and to others which may hereinafterappear,Y the invention consists of such parts which will be describedand as illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

` wherein is shown an embodiment of the -invention, but it is to bekunderstood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted towhich fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawing: K v "Figure 1 is a side elevation of the knife when openand illustrating in full and dotted lines the finger guard in operativeand inoperative positions respectively,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the knife when open with a section ofthe handle element and a section of the blade coupling element removedand further illustrating in dotted lines the position of the blade andthe blade coupling element when the knife is closed,

' Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the knife in open position,

' Figure` 4 is a section on line 4 4, Figure 2, vFigure 5 is a sectionon line 5-5, Figure 1,

y'Figure 6 is a side elevation of the blade, and

Figure 7 is an elevation of a modified form of blade capable of beingreversed.

The knife includes a combined case, guard and handle element 'I, acombined blade carrier and coupling element 8, a blade 8a, a combinedfinger guard and blade locking element 9, a. latching device I forretaining the knife in open position, and a pivot element YII commontoelements I and 8. Y

Theelement 1 includes a pair of outer sections I2, I3 and anintermediate section I4 which coacts with the said other sections toform a case with a closed top, partly open inner and outer ends and acompletely open bottom. The sectionsv I2, I3 are of like contour andeach has its forward end formed -with a lower semi-circular edge-portionI5 and an upper edge portion I6 which is inset with respect to edgeportion I5. The edge portionv I 6 is disposed at an outward inclinationfrom its lower to its upper end. The inner end of the top of edgeportion I5 merges into the lower end of edge portion I6. The sectionsI2,`I3 have rounded rear end edges' II, curved top and bottom edges I8,I9 extending respectively from the upper and lower ends'of edge I'l.`The forward portion of edge I8 is upon an outwardly directed curve andhas its forward endmerging into the outer end of edge portion I6. Theedge IS is straight and inclines downwardly from the bottom of edge I'Iand terminates in the end of the bottom of the edge portion I5. The edgeportions I6 are parallel and constitute an abutment for a'Y purpose tobe referred to. The sections I2, I3 have aligning openings arrangedbelow edge portions I6. Thesection I4 is in the form of a narrow straphavinggitsouterside edgeconforming in con# tour tothe top edges I8 andthe upper portion of the edges I I of sections I2, I3. The section I4 isnarrow and of angle contour to provide an elongated upper, horizontalleg 2I and an upstanding leg 22 'depending from the outer end of leg 2|.The forward end of leg 2| is of the same contour as the edge portionsI6. Thesection I4 is ush with edge portions I6 and edges I I and I8.rThe lbottom edge of 4leg 2I is cut out toprovide aslioulder 23intermediate its ends. The sections I2, I3 vare formed with parallelbayonet `shaped slots 24 arranged at and depending below the bottom edgeof leg 2I.V The sections I2, I3 and I4 are suitably secured together.The outer faces of the sections I2, I3 bordering the edges I9 areprovided with graduated scales 25, only one shown.

The combined blade carrier and coupling element 8 comprises a pair ofresilient side cheeks 25, 26 extending between the inner ends ofsections I2, i3 of element 1. Each cheek is formed of a substantiallytriangular shaped part 21 and an oifset rearwardly extending, downwardlyinclined circular extension 28. The upper portions of the rear ends ofthe cheeks 25, 26, above the extensions 28, are provided with edgeportions 219 which extend at an inclination from their lower to theirupper ends in a direction toward the forward ends of the cheeks. Theextensions 28 are formed with axially arranged openings 30.` The cheek25, in proximity to its bottom end edge for-` wardly of its extension28, has anchored thereto forward and rear spaced blade holding pins 3 I,'3 I

respectively which extend towards cheek 26 and are formed with reducedparts .32 Vwherebythe pins are shouldered, as at 33. The axis of pin 3|ais arranged above the axis of pin 3|. The cheek 26, in proximity to itsbottom edge forwardly of its extension 28, is provided with forward andrear spaced openings 34, 34e respectively, for receiving the reducedparts 32 of the pins. Theaxis of opening ,34e is arranged above the axisof opening 34. When the reduced parts 32 are extended into the openings34, 34a the shoulders 33 abut against the inner face of cheek 26. Thecheeks are arranged in parallel spaced relation for the receptiontherebetween of the upper portion of the blade 8a and for this purposethere is secured to the inner face of the cheek 25 a disc 35 which hasits edge iiush with the extensions 28. The disc 35 is formed with anaxial opening 36 which is to align with the openings 30 in extensions28. rhe disc 35 at its edge, isformed vwith spaced cutouts, as at 32,.33, to provide respectively a combined clearance and abutment and aratchet tooth for purposes to be referred to. The forward side edges ofcheeks` 25, 26 have aligning cutouts 38 fora purpose to vbe set forth.The cutouts 39 form upper and lower shoulders and inset forward edgeportions connecting the upper shoulders to the lower shoulders.

'Ihe blad-e element 8a is of substantial frusto triangular form andconsists of a'body part 40 having a cutting edge 4I, a front edge formedof a pair of rearwardly inclined superposed edge portions 42, 43disposed in parallel'planes and with the edge portion 43V arranged belowandforwardly of edge portion 42, a straight upper edge 44 of materiallyless length than its cutting edge and a rear edge formed of a lowerstraight edge portion 45 and an upper edge portion 46 extendingforwardly at an inclination from the upper end of edge portion 45 to therear end of edge 44. The edge portions 42, 43 are at a greaterinclination than that of edge portion 46. The latter is of materiallygreater length than edge portion 45. The body part 4B is provided aboveits longitudinal median with a forward and a rear opening 41, 48respectively and with opening 48 having its axis arranged above the axisof opening 41. It will be noted that the extensions 28, in the opencondition of the knife have an edge portion curving away from the bottomedge of the handle and extending beyond thev `openend of the latter andthat the cutting edge 4I of the blade element 82L inclines away fromsaid edge and is offset inwardly ofthe latter whereby in cutting an edgeof a skin, for instance on -a table, the knifeelement may be positionedover the edge of the skin and rocked downwardly the extensions beingused as a fulcrum bearing upon the table.

The finger guard element 9, which also constitutes a lock for blade Seand coacts with the outer ends of the cheeks 25, 26, consists of achannel shaped body 49 having integral with the upper end of one sidethereo-f an apertured arm 50 which is pivotally connected, as at 5I, toand is arranged against the outer side of cheek 25. The element 9, inconnection with the `pins 3l, 3Ia, releasably lock the blade 8fL to theelement 8.

VThe blade is inserted between the cheeks to a position whereby thenon-reduced parts of the pins 34, 3Ia will be arranged in the openings41, 48. The cheek 26 is then moved towards cheek 25 to provide for thereduced parts 32 to extend into the openings 34, 34a. The element 9 isthen shifted from its dotted line position (Figure 1) to its full lineposition (Figure 1) whereby the blade will be removably locked to thecheeks in position to be used. When the body 49 of element 3 is in itsfull line position (Figure l) it will seat in the cutouts 39 and againstedge portion 42 of the blade, as well as straddle and be ush with theouter end edges of the cheeks and the edge portion 43 of the blade. Whenthe knife is used one of the operators fingers bears on the body 49 ofelement 9 and such body prevents the finger from being injured by theouter end edges of the cheeks and blade. When the latter is detachablysecured to the cheeks it has a part of its rear edge abutting the edgeof the cutout 31. The edge of the latter is of a contour similar to theedge portions 45, 46 of the blade.

Since the cheeks 25 and 25, as previously men.- tioned, are resilientthey may be flexed away from each other to break the coaction of thepins 3 I, 3 I8L with the openings 34, 34a and to facilitate insertingand removing the blade element 8a. By swinging one cheek relative to theother access may be had to the interior of the blade carrier forconvenient manipulation of the blade element in inserting or removingthe same. As will be apparent the cheeks 25 and 26 are locked againstsuch relative movement by coaction of the element 9 with the cut outs39.

Positioned against the outer faces of the sections I2, I3 of the element1 are axially apertured discs 52. The apertures of the discs 52 alignwith the openings 20, 38, 36., Countersunk in the apertures of the discs52 and extending through the openings 2D, 30, 36 is the pivot elementII. The latter and discs 52 clamp elements 1 and 8 together to preventone freely moving relative to the other, but the clamping action is suchas to permit the knife toY be opened and closed when occas1on requires.

The latching device I0 coacts with the ratchet tooth formed by cutout 38for the purpose of maintaining the knife in open position, suchl asshown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The device I0 is spring Vcontrolled andincludes a latching member 53 slidably mounted on a. lug 54 on the innerface of section I2, a pull member 55 for and pivotally connected tomember 53, as at 56, an arm `51 carried by member 55 and extendingthrough the slots 24 and finger pieces 58 on the ends of Y-arm 51 tofacilitate the shifting of device ID to and from latching position. Thecontrolling spring of the device I0 is indicated at 59.

The pull member 55, when latching member 53 in engagement with theratchet tooth formed by cutout 38, is to abut the shoulder 23 wherebythe latching device I0 will bemaintained ina position to prevent theshifting of the combined blade carrier and coupling element 8 on pivotelement I l When the latching device Ill is released, the knife can beclosed in a manner whereby element 8 and blade 8a will be arranged inthe dotted line position shown in Figure 2, that is, the portion of theblade extended from element 8 and a part of the latter will be encasedby element 1.

The edge portions I6 and 29- coact for limiting the opening of the knifeand to cause the elements 1 and 8 to extend in lateral relation withrespect to each other.

The bayonet slots 24 and arm 5l coact under the influence of thecontrolling spring 5S, when the device lil is moved to locking positionto form snap-action devices for holding the element l0 in latchingposition.

The modified form of blade element shown in Figure 6 is designated 6Band is in the form of a symmetrical trapezoid. The element is formedwith a pair of spaced openings 6I which are parallel to its cutting edge62. The element 60 is reversible. The forward portion of disc 35 will becut away in a suitable manner to provide a clearance which would becommon to the front and rear edges of the element 60 when the latter isused in normal or reversed positions.

What I claim is:

1. A knife for use in cutting material upon a ilat support andcomprising, a hollow handle having a rib-like back member extendingalong one edge and open at its opposite edge and one end respectively, ablade holder adapted to be swung into and out of said handle to open andclose the knife and comprising, a pair of laterally spaced cheek plateshaving extending therefrom substantially semi-circular ears pivotallysecured, in the open end of the handle, each of said ears having an edgeportion extending, in the open condition of the knife, beyond the openend of the handle whereby said holder may be rocked upon the supportwith a rolling motion by means of said handle and pressure exerteddownwardly thereon, said ears bearing against said back member wherebythe pivot of the holder is relieved of such pressure and shearing ofsaid pivot thereby obviated, and a knife blade removably secured betweensaid cheek plates, and having a cutting V edge inclining, in the opencondition of the knife,

blade therebetween and provided with coacting devices cooperating withsaid apertures to secure the blade between said plates, said platesbeing resilient for separative flexing action to break the coactionbetween said devices and swingable independently of each other foraccess to said blade, and a combined locking element and iingerguard forsecuring said plates against such flexing action and for applyingpressure against said holder, said element being pivotally mounted onone plate to fold over the edges of said plates and in its foldedposition being countersunk in said edges whereby said plates are heldagainst independent swinging movement.

3. In a knife, a hollow handle having a riblike back member extendingalong one edge thereof and open at its opposite edge and one endrespectively, a blade, a blade holder adapted to swing into and out ofsaid handle and comprising, laterally spaced cheek plates havingextending therefrom substantially semi-circular ears pivotally securedin the open end of the handle and bearing at their edges against saidback member, one of said ears being provided with a notch for location,in the outwardly swung position of the holder, contiguous said backmember, and means to lock the holder in outwardly swung position andcomprising a locking bolt slidable on said member into said notch, amanipulative element for sliding said bolt, and snap action devices forlatching said element to said handle in the locking position of saidbolt.

GEORGE N. KIRANGELOS.

